Solar Kiln
We built a Solar Kiln based on the Virginia Tech Solar Kiln design. The solar kiln can hold up to 1,000 board foot of one inch thick lumber. The kiln is heated when the solar energy enters the clear glazing on the roof and is absorbed by the black painted surfaces on the inside of the kiln. The Kiln is very well insulated so the heat that is absorbed stays in the kiln.
Once the air inside the kiln is heated it is moved throughout the kiln by fans. This helps dry the lumber. If the humidity gets to high inside the kiln the moist air must be vented in the back of the kiln through the vents.
With the solar kiln we can dry lumber in 12 of the time it takes to air dry lumber. To use lumber for building furniture, crafts or for inside trim or flooring , the lumber must be dried below a moisture content of 9 %. When a log is first cut it is common to have moisture contents of over 30%. If you air dry lumber it usually takes one year for every inch of thickness to dry to a moisture content of 10 %.
The roof of the kiln is at a 45 degree angle to the south, this is the perfect angle to absorb the solar energy to dry the lumber.
When the lumber is placed inside the kiln, stickers still must be used to allow air flow over the lumber. The ends of the lumber are painted to prevent the ends to dry out faster that the rest of the lumber. When that occurs you get cracking, splitting and checking which is no good for the lumber.
Some species of wood take longer to dry that others, partly based on there density. For example red oak takes three times as long as ash to dry and twice as long as black walnut to dry. Cherry lumber dries twice as long as ash lumber and just a bit slower than black walnut.
If you want the Double D Sawmill to dry your lumber call and see when you can get on the schedule.
We built a Solar Kiln based on the Virginia Tech Solar Kiln design. The solar kiln can hold up to 1,000 board foot of one inch thick lumber. The kiln is heated when the solar energy enters the clear glazing on the roof and is absorbed by the black painted surfaces on the inside of the kiln. The Kiln is very well insulated so the heat that is absorbed stays in the kiln.
Once the air inside the kiln is heated it is moved throughout the kiln by fans. This helps dry the lumber. If the humidity gets to high inside the kiln the moist air must be vented in the back of the kiln through the vents.
With the solar kiln we can dry lumber in 12 of the time it takes to air dry lumber. To use lumber for building furniture, crafts or for inside trim or flooring , the lumber must be dried below a moisture content of 9 %. When a log is first cut it is common to have moisture contents of over 30%. If you air dry lumber it usually takes one year for every inch of thickness to dry to a moisture content of 10 %.
The roof of the kiln is at a 45 degree angle to the south, this is the perfect angle to absorb the solar energy to dry the lumber.
When the lumber is placed inside the kiln, stickers still must be used to allow air flow over the lumber. The ends of the lumber are painted to prevent the ends to dry out faster that the rest of the lumber. When that occurs you get cracking, splitting and checking which is no good for the lumber.
Some species of wood take longer to dry that others, partly based on there density. For example red oak takes three times as long as ash to dry and twice as long as black walnut to dry. Cherry lumber dries twice as long as ash lumber and just a bit slower than black walnut.
If you want the Double D Sawmill to dry your lumber call and see when you can get on the schedule.
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Black walnut fire palace mantle just cut for a customer